Allergies: They’re not just for humans anymore

Allergy season is upon us, and it’s not just people who suffer. Chris Davidson spoke with a veterinarian about the troubles our pets face.

Dr. Thomas Reeping, a veterinarian at Crago Veterinary Clinic, says this has been the worst allergy season he’s ever experienced. — Chris Davidson/TheNewsOutlet.org

“This is the worst allergy season I’ve seen.”

Dr. Tom Reeping is one of the vets at Crago Veterinary Clinic in Boardman

“I would say 80 percent of what comes through the door is allergy related.”

When we get allergies our eyes, nose and sinuses are affected.

“But these guys tend to do it through skin, paws and ears.”

Reeping lists some of the telltale signs:

“If you are looking at your dog and your dog seems to be constantly grooming its paws or it seems to have really bad skin. It’s red, it’s inflamed, irritated or really itchy or they seem to have really bad ears. These are all symptoms of allergies.”

Some pets are allergic to fleabites.

“If it’s a flea allergy, usually your dog shows a lot of those signs over the tail. They go bald over the tail. They lose their hair. You see a lot of scabs, you see a lot of debris and it seems to be specifically over the tail.”

Treatments include anti-histamines, flea baths and cortisone shots.

“It’s very frustrating for owners.”

Ohio’s flea season lasts from March to December and seasonal allergies run from spring to summer, summer to fall and fall to winter.

“We’re just trying to buy time until that first frost comes.”

So, many of the 62 percent of us who own pets are looking forward to the first cold snap.